GAITHERSBURG, Md. — A New York man was arrested Monday after a home invasion and a police pursuit that stretched from Maryland to Virginia, during which he allegedly fired multiple shots at officers.
The incident began around 4:30 a.m. when authorities responded to a hit-and-run at Route 355 and Watkins Mill Road. Witnesses saw a man and a small child leaving a stolen Toyota Scion, which had been reported missing from New York City a day earlier. Shortly after, a Kia Forte was reported stolen nearby.
At 9:20 a.m., a homeowner in Germantown reported a break-in by a man matching the description of the earlier suspect. The man, identified as 32-year-old Esmeraldo Martinez De La Cruz, was accompanied by his 4-year-old daughter, Luna Martinez. Armed with a weapon, Martinez allegedly stole personal items, food, and a red 2002 GMC Sierra pickup truck before fleeing.
Later that afternoon, Virginia State Police spotted the stolen truck in Bridgewater, Va., and attempted a traffic stop. Martinez led officers on a nearly 60-mile chase on Interstate 81, firing multiple shots at police before crashing into a guardrail near the Shenandoah-Frederick County line.
Martinez was taken into custody without incident and is facing multiple charges in Virginia, including attempted murder of a law enforcement officer. He also faces charges in Montgomery County for home invasion, armed robbery, and child neglect.